Assault and Aftermath
In October 2005, Xavier was brutally attacked by a group of about twenty young men in New York City, in the Bushwick area of Brooklyn. Despite various rumors about the attack—some suggested it stemmed from his granting the Latin Kings gang permission to publish one of his poems, "Waiting For God", which (ironically) dealt with police brutality while others suggested it was simply another gay bashing—Xavier believed the crime was a random act of violence. He later captured his experience in the poem "Writer's Block".
After the attack, Xavier experienced significant hearing loss. An MRI resulted in the discovery of an aural tumor which was surgically removed, but resulted in total loss of hearing in one ear.
Read more about this topic: Emanuel Xavier
Famous quotes containing the words assault and/or aftermath:
“The treatment of the incident of the assault upon the sailors of the Baltimore is so conciliatory and friendly that I am of the opinion that there is a good prospect that the differences growing out of that serious affair can now be adjusted upon terms satisfactory to this Government by the usual methods and without special powers from Congress.”
—Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901)
“The aftermath of joy is not usually more joy.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)